If you've seen a well being cleaned, you may have noticed that a reddish brown powder is thrown into it. That would be potassium permanganate, which is one of chemistry's most useful substances. The germ fighter Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidising agent when dissolved in water. KMnO 4 + H 2 O → MnO 2 + K + + OH - + O * The oxygen free radical is a powerful toxin, and kills off bacteria and fungi. That's why potassium permanganate is used to clean not just wells, but also fish tanks, water storage tanks, water pipes etc. You can use a dilute solution of KMnO 4 (which is pinkish red in colour) to treat mild skin infections, bruises, sores etc. But don't ever use it on cuts or deeper wounds. If you keep an aquarium, you can use a very mild solution to keep your fishes free from bacteria. It is used in laboratories, poultry farms and hospital wards as a fumigation agent to kill fungi. During fumigation, the cleaner puts one gram of potassium ...
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